Integrated Active-Passive Antenna Structure for Wind Load and Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G base station antennas face structural strength and reliability issues due to low rigidity communication towers and heavy active antennas, leading to increased vibrations and material waste from openings in existing integrated antennas.
Innovation Solution
An active-passive integrated antenna design featuring a reflective plate, mounting portions, a dielectric plate with a frequency selection surface, and an active antenna unit, where the mounting portions are reinforced with hollow rod shapes and through holes to enhance structural strength and reduce wind load, while minimizing material waste by eliminating openings on the reflective plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a single-tube communication tower of steel structure is used, then the base station antenna can be installed, but the tower body has low rigidity and the tower top generates too great horizontal displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting portion is divided into a hollow rod structure with internal reinforcement ribs, segmenting the single tube into multiple structural elements that work together to enhance rigidity while reducing weight
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting portion combines hollow rod structure with internal reinforcement ribs to create a composite structure that achieves high rigidity and strength-to-weight ratio, solving the tower rigidity problem
2Adaptability or versatility
If an integrated antenna is suspended at tens of meters height, then site resources are utilized efficiently, but wind blows cause vortices and airflow separation leading to complicated air forces and antenna vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna cover is designed as a streamlined shell structure that allows wind to flow smoothly over it, reducing vortex formation and airflow separation, thereby minimizing wind-induced vibrations at high installation heights
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna cover employs curved and streamlined surfaces that guide wind flow smoothly, preventing turbulence and vortex formation, thus reducing harmful wind forces on the antenna
3Ease of operation
If openings are made on the reflective plate for mounting, then the active antenna unit can be installed, but material waste occurs and structural strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting function is extracted from the reflective plate by providing dedicated mounting portions on the antenna cover, allowing the reflective plate to remain intact without openings, thus preserving both strength and material
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting portion acts as an intermediary structure between the reflective plate and the active antenna unit, enabling installation without creating openings in the reflective plate, thereby maintaining its structural integrity
4Device complexity
If the active antenna unit is secured directly to the reflective plate, then installation is simplified, but the heavy weight causes stronger vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting portion serves as an intermediary structure between the reflective plate and the heavy active antenna unit, providing reinforced attachment points that distribute the weight load and reduce vibrations, while still simplifying installation through integrated mounting holes
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The integrated antenna design improves structural strength, reliability, and reduces wind load, ensuring safe and efficient operation while minimizing material waste and maintaining high dynamic rigidity and radio frequency performance.
Implementation Method 1
a dielectric plate spaced apart from the reflective plate on the pair of mounting portions, a first surface of the dielectric plate being provided with a frequency selection surface
Implementation Method 2
a reflective plate; a plurality of passive antenna elements respectively arranged on the reflective plate
Data Source
AI summary
An active-passive integrated antenna is provided. The active-passive integrated antenna includes a reflective plate, a pair of mounting portions respectively secured to two sides of a bottom of the reflective plate, a dielectric plate, a plurality of passive antenna elements and an active antenna unit. More specifically, the dielectric plate is spaced apart from the reflective plate on the pair of mounting portions, and a first surface of the dielectric plate is provided with a frequency selection surface; the plurality of passive antenna elements are respectively arranged on the reflective plate and the frequency selection surface; the active antenna unit is arranged above a second surface of the dielectric plate and secured to the pair of mounting portions.